Simplified slider mechanism

ABSTRACT

A slider mechanism is provided with a release mechanism for releasing a spring clip holding a protruding detent in a leg supporting an overhead canopy. The release mechanism is mounted to the slider so that it is automatically loaded in the detent engaging position of the slider so that a simple pushing action on the mechanism causes the detent to withdraw within the leg during lowering of the canopy for storage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/892,952 filed Oct. 18, 2013, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to collapsible frame structures, and more particularly, to a simplified slider mechanism for holding the frame in position when erecting the frame structures and quickly releasing the slider mechanism when the frame structure is collapsed or folded for storage or transport. While the disclosure is specifically directed toward canopy constructions, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider application of the disclosure described below.

Commonly frame structures for supporting an erectable canopy use spring biased detents that protrude from the support legs such that the detents engage some form of slider mechanism under the spring bias that is adequate to support the canopy top of the frame. To collapse the structure, the detents have to be released from their protruded, slider engaging position.

There have been a number of attempts to make detent releases easier to accomplish. U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,327 (327), for example, provides a spring loaded design having a complicated construction which functions to release the detent. While the device of '327 patent works for its intended purpose, the construction is complicated by the spring loaded arrangement for releasing the detent. In order to simplify this specification, the description of conventional construction details of the common detent and canopy construction disclosed in the '327 patent are incorporated herein by reference. While even the construction shown in the '327 patent is preferable to a finger operated detent, the various spring mechanisms commonly employed can become misaligned and the structure for housing the spring and push button structural arrangement adds cost both to the slider and overall canopy construction.

The present disclosure uses an improved detent engagement design which helps insure that the slider properly supports the canopy top while providing a quick release feature. The engagement of the slider with the detent also automatically loads the release mechanism. The release mechanism is pivotally mounted to the slider. The slider, besides mounting the release mechanism, also engages the detent and provides a simple and easy method for releasing the detent to collapse the frame structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present disclosure provides a slider mechanism for preferably at least two telescoping members, which in the preferred embodiment support a canopy in the extended position and permits easy retraction of the telescoping members for storage of the canopy. The slider preferably has a release mechanism attached to it in a manner to load the mechanism automatically without the need for spring actuation other than that provided by the normal interaction of a detent arrangement carried by at least one of the telescoping members associated with the slider during canopy erection for its normal intended use.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of a slider mechanism used to extend the support structure of a canopy, or the like, prior to engagement with a corresponding detent;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of the slider of FIG. 1 following engagement of the slider with the detent shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a generally bottom oriented side view in perspective of the slider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a generally top oriented side view in perspective of the slider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the slider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the slider body shown in FIG. 4 with the release device removed; and

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the release device shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a slider mechanism 1 has a detent releasing device associated with it, generally indicated by reference numeral 3. In general, the slider mechanism 1 is associated with a frame structure 5 for supporting a canopy, not shown. In general, the canopy is supported on the frame 5 in a conventional manner. For example, the frame 5 commonly is a scissors foldable frame 6 supported or attached to four corner support members 7, one of the support members 7 being shown broken away by way of example in FIG. 1. The slider mechanism 1 has a plurality of canopy supporting arms generally indicated by reference numerals 8, 9, and 10 integrally formed with it. The number of support arms and their configuration and/or construction may vary in other embodiments of this disclosure. The support members 7 commonly have one or more telescoping legs 12 and 14 associated with them. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, canopy constructions of various kinds are well known in the market.

In erecting the canopy the support members 7 are separated from a stored position not shown so that the scissor frame is opened. The telescoping legs 12 and 14 of each of the support members 7 are then extended until the respective telescoping legs interlock along one or more detents or locking pins 50. The slider mechanism 1 is then raised upwardly until the slider mechanism is also interconnected with one of the detents 50 to hold the canopy in its upmost position on the frame 5 structure. Preferably at least two of the support members 7 have a slider mechanism 1 associated with them, but each of the support members 7 may have an associated slider mechanism if desired.

In the embodiment illustrated, the slider mechanism 1 has an elongated rectangular body 20 having an axial opening 21 extending through it. While the slider body preferably is rectangular so as to accommodate corresponding rectangular support members 7, the design may be altered to accommodate any number of support member 7 shapes, the prevalent shape for support members 7 in the market presently is rectangular. Those skilled in the art will recognize the wider application of the slider mechanism 1 described. The supports 8, 9 and 10 are integrally formed with the body 20 and are arranged in a predetermined configuration which may be altered in other embodiments to accept attachment of any associated canopy support structure or frame structure 5. Attachment of the associated frame structure 5 conventionally is accomplished by conventional nut and screw threaded fasteners 90 although those skilled in the art will appreciate that other methods of attachment are acceptable and available.

The body 20 has an open mouth channel 22 formed in it which is sized to receive the spring loaded detent or locking pin 50 during operation of the slider mechanism 1 as later described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the body 20 has an axial length dimension “D” while the channel 22 extends beyond the axial length of the dimension D of the body 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the channel 22 includes a wall 60. The wall 60 has a slot 61, formed in it, as shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 5, the support arms 10 also have a depth dimension D′, where D′ is less the D in an area described for the purposes of this specification as a channel extension 24. In the embodiment illustrated, the extension 24 is defined in part by oppositely opposed side walls 30 and 31 and the wall 60. The opposed side walls 30 and 31 are sized to receive a release lever 40 shown as an individual part in FIG. 8. The lever 40 is pivotally mounted to the side walls 30 and 31 at 45. Lever 40 has an extension actuator 62 formed on it. The actuator 62 is positioned so that is will come into contact with the detent 50 as later discussed.

The axial opening 21 of the body 20 is sized to receive the support 7 in a slip fit and the detent or pin 50 is sized for reception in the channel 22 first in a compressed state as the slider mechanism 1 moves upwardly past the detent 50 and then in an uncompressed state as the detent 50 reaches the slot 61. FIG. 1 illustrates the slider mechanism 1 position as it is moved upwardly from a first stored position to a second interlocked position in which any associated structure reaches its extended position for use. In that movement, the detent 50 moves down the channel in a compressed position, until the detent 50 reaches the slot 61 in the wall 60. At that time, the detent 50 moves outwardly from the channel 22 into the slot 61. At the same time the detent 50 also engages the extension 62 of the actuator 40 pivoting the actuator 40 outwardly about the pivot 45. The engagement of the detent 50 in the slot 61 holding the slider in position on the support 7 and prevents unintended downward movement of the slider mechanism 1. The engagement of the detent 50 with the extension 62 forces the lever 40 outwardly and automatically preloads the release mechanism lever 40. To release the slider mechanism 1, a user exerts pressure on the lever 40 which causes the detent 50 outwardly through from the slot 61 and permits the slider mechanism 1 to move downwardly as the detent 50 enters the channel 22 until it exits both the channel 22 and the slider mechanism 1.

The components of the slider mechanism 1 are simple to construct and the release mechanism operation does not require any additional springs to preload the lever 40. The preloading of the lever 40 means that release of the slider from its engaged position with the detent 50 is accomplished easily.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. In a support structure including at least one hollow support leg having a surface defining a detent receiving opening, a detent structure spring mounted to the support leg to define a support position and a slider moveably positioned on the and movable between at least a first position disengaged from said detent and a second position engaging said detent, the improvement which comprises a release mechanism mounted to said slider for releasing the slider from said second position, said release mechanism being pivotally mounted to said slider so that the detent automatically loads the release mechanism as said slider moves to said second position.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is pushed to disengage the detent.
 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the support leg is square in cross section.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the slider has at least one attachment for the canopy mounted to it.
 5. A slider mechanism for a support structure comprising: at least one hollow support leg having a surface defining a detent receiving opening; a detent structure spring mounted to the support leg adapted to project a detent through the opening in the support leg; a slider moveably mounted to the support let between at least a first position below the detent projection and a second position at least partly above the detent projection; a release mechanism mounted to the slider, the release mechanism adopted to connect to the detent automatically as the slider movers between said first and second positions so as to load the release mechanism for disengagement of the detent.
 6. A slider mechanism, comprising: a body having an axial opening extending through it, the body including a channel formed in the body and communicating with the axial opening, the channel being defined in part by a wall having a slot formed it; and a lever pivotally mounted to the body, the lever including an actuator position adjacent the slot in the mounted position of the lever.
 7. The slider mechanism of claim 6 wherein the axial opening is generally rectangular.
 8. The slider mechanism of claim 7 wherein the body further includes at least one support arm for attaching additional structure to the slider. 